Unsung Hero: Meet the Man Who Has Changed the Way People Visit Petrol Pumps

Man who is making a big difference in society.

India is the nation of wonders, and I just happened to come across another wondrous story that I'm going to share with you on this Republic Day.

How often does it happen that you visit a petrol station, get your vehicle re-fuelled and when you leave, you have a smile on your face for a good reason? Not a lot of times I must say.

But while two of WittyFeed's founders, Vinay and Shashank were traveling to Jaipur today, just like most of us travel every day, they stopped at Mangala Petrol Pump to get their car re-fuelled. As soon as they stepped out of their vehicle, a staff member of the gas station came to welcome them with a cheerful smile on his face, hugged them, wished them a happy Republic Day, handed over a packet of sweets to them along with a new car dustbin for their four-wheeler. All for free. Wow.

It was an unexpected and a very overwhelming moment for my founders. After all, it's not something you expect in a normal case. Vinay and Shashank felt curious, wanted to spend some time there. What they learned in next few minutes gave me a goosebump and made my Republic Day, a happy one.

Meet the owner of Mangala Petrol Pump, Abhishek.

Abhishek, who is a postgraduate and an MBA has re-innovated the entire concept of the way people feel at the fuel station. He believes that when people take a stop at his fuel station, it must be forever engraved in their memory.

His petrol pump is an ordinary one, but what he's doing with it is extraordinary.

Abhishek, whose gas station is based at MP - Rajasthan border, told that there are a lot of petrol stations on this route. And as it's located on a highway, a lot of bus/truck drivers take a stop to get their vehicle re-fuelled.

He shares that:

"Truck drivers are not less than soldiers of our country. Soldiers in the uniforms secure our borders; truck drivers are soldiers without uniforms, they work hard to secure the growth of our nation's economy."

So he doesn't only re-fuel their trucks but attempts in all possible ways to make them feel good.

And his love towards them is unconditional and unconventional. Abhishek feels that when someone visits Mangala Petrol Pump, they must not leave empty-hands. From an ordinary soap for washing hands to gifting his customer smartphones, Abhishek took this smart initiative to make sure that if once someone gets their vehicle re-fuelled at this station, they should come back again.

"I don't want this place to be an ordinary emotionless fuel station. I want people to think about taking a stop at this petrol pump while they are planning the journey."

The dustbin

By the time Abhishek shared all of this with Vinay and Shashank, their car was refuelled, and all set to go. But come on, you don't meet such people every day in your life. So, they decided to sit together for a while and know more over a cup of tea.

WittyFeed founders photographed with Abhishek.

Such overwhelming gesture towards the visitors wasn't just because of being 26th January, Abhishek wants to make every single day, an inspirational one for others.

Like on 15th August 2017, he hosted a flag ceremony and gifted paper flags to all his customers.

It's not an ordinary flag, but it carries 'Tulsi seeds' inside it. All these years, Abhishek used to feel bad that people celebrate 15th August for a single day and then throw flags on the street. So he got an idea, and he converted flag into a Tulsi plant that can grow.

Abhishek keeps on organizing events. He shared with me that, on 23rd September 2017, he conducted a health camp for truck drivers at the petrol pump only.

He even parties with his customer.

Abhishek shares that on the eve of 31st December, he welcomed the New Year 2018 with truck drivers only and all of them enjoyed 'Daal-Baati' (dinner of Malwa region).

He has tie-ups with truck owners as well.

Abhishek says that, to build on this relationship between his fuel-station and truck drivers to help more people, he travels around the nation and takes seminars to spread awareness and then ties-up with truck owners to increase his reach. He told me that has taken workshops for more than 30,000 truck owners.

It was a life-time memory for WittyFeed founders.

Abhishek talked to Vinay and Shashank about his contribution towards Swachha Bharat Campaign.

Abhishek has proven that you don't need a superpower to be superhuman.

Lots of love and respect to you Abhishek, from Vinay, Shashank, and the entire WittyFeed family. Thank you for the kindness you are spreading. Salute!